Daniel 8:1 IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE REIGN OF BELSHAZZAR THE KING A VISION APPEARED TO ME, DANIEL, SUBSEQUENT TO THE ONE WHICH APPEARED TO ME PREVIOUSLY: (Third year: Da 7:1) (Me, Daniel - Da 8:15 7:15,28 9:2 10:2,7 11:4 ) (I Daniel - phrase occurs in Da 8:15 8:27 9:2 10:2 10:7 12:5)

Outline of Daniel 8 - The Vision of the Ram, the Goat and the Rather Small Horn

Daniel 8:1,2 - The Time and Place of the Vision

Daniel 8:3-14 The Contents of the Vision
Daniel 8:15-26 The Interpretation of the Vision
Daniel 8:27 The Impact of the Vision

Daniel now is inspired to switch from writing in Aramaic (Da 2:4b through Da 7:28) back to Hebrew, the language in which he had written in Da 1:1 through Da 2:4a. While one cannot be dogmatic as to why the switch occurs at this juncture, close observation of the subject matter in these last 4 chapters indicates a clear focus on the land of Israel and the fate of the Jews, in both the near future (from Daniel's perspective) and the distant future, yea, even to "the end of the age" (Daniel 12:13, cp repetition of the phrase "the end" in the NAS = Da 8:17, 19, Da 9:26, Da 11:27, Da 11:35, Da 11:40, Da 12:4, Da 12:6, Da 12:9)

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar - The year is 551BC and Daniel is a "mature" older saint (~69yo) when he received vision number 2 of 4.. To help keep one's perspective in this great prophetic section of Daniel, recall that Daniel 7-12 describes Daniel's four separate visions which are summarized in the chart below. Notice that the first and second visions are actually given to Daniel during the reign of Belshazzar, and thus chronologically fall between chapters 4 and 5. Daniel 5 (Da 5:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) marks the fall of the Babylonian kingdom and the rise of the Medo-Persian kingdom, during which the prophet received his third (Da 9:1, Da 9:23) and fourth (Da 10:1) visions. The fourth and final vision begins in Daniel 10:1 and extends through the end of the book, Daniel 12:13.
 

Daniel 8:2 2 I LOOKED IN THE VISION, AND WHILE I WAS LOOKING I WAS IN THE CITADEL OF SUSA, WHICH IS IN THE PROVINCE OF ELAM; AND I LOOKED IN THE VISION AND I MYSELF WAS BESIDE THE ULAI CANAL.
 

I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal: (I looked in: Da 8:3 7:2,15 Nu 12:6 Heb 1:1) (Susa [Shushan]: Neh 1:1 Esther 1:2 2:8 3:15 7:6 8:15 9:11,15) (Province: Ge 10:22 14:1 Isa 21:2 Jer 25:25 49:34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 Ezek 32:24) (Ulai Canal: Da 8:16)

Citadel of Susa (Shushan = means "lily") (Dictionary Descriptions) -

Susa (Shushan) (See map below - Susa is ~250 miles east of Babylon in modern day Iran) - 19v in the OT - Neh 1:1; Esther 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5, 8; 3:15; 4:8, 16; 8:14f; 9:6, 11ff, 18; Da 8:2. Susa would eventually become one of the capitals of the Persian empire, when almost one hundred years after Daniel's time, the emperor Xerxes would build his royal palace there. Susa is also the site of the main events of the book of Esther. Finally, God's man Nehemiah lived in Susa as the king's cupbearer. Nehemiah (in about 445BC, over 100 years after Daniel's vision in Da 8:1) wrote...

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol (Heb = biyrah/bira = same word in Da 8:1 for "citadel"), (Neh 1:1)

Citadel (biyrah/bira) - 16x - 1 Chr 29:1, 19; Neh 1:1; 2:8; 7:2; Esther 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5, 8; 3:15; 8:14; 9:6, 11, 12; Dan 8:2. NAS = capitol(1), citadel(11), fortress(2), temple(2).

Elam - A well-known tract, partly mountainous, whose western boundary, starting on the Northeast side of the Persian Gulf, practically followed the course of the lower Tigris. It was bounded on the North by Media, on the East by Persia and on the West by Babylonia. The great capital of the tract was Susa (Shushan). Elam consisted of a plain occupying a depression in the mountains of Iran or Persia.  (Adapted from Dictionary Article)

And I looked in the vision - This statement suggests that Daniel was not actually in Susa but more likely was transported there in a vision much like the other exilic prophet Ezekiel was transported from Babylon to Jerusalem in his vision of the Temple (cp Ezek 8:3, 11:24)

Daniel 8:3 THEN I LIFTED MY EYES AND LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A RAM WHICH HAD TWO HORNS WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CANAL. NOW THE TWO HORNS WERE LONG, BUT ONE WAS LONGER THAN THE OTHER, WITH THE LONGER ONE COMING UP LAST: (I lifted: Da 10:5 Nu 24:2 Jos 5:13 1Ch 21:16 Zec 1:18 2:1 5:1,5,9 6:1) (Ram: Da 8:20 2:39 7:5) (One [horn]: Media was the more ancient kingdom; but Persia, after Cyrus, was the most considerable. Da 5:31 6:28 Ezra 1:2 4:5 Es 1:3 Isa 13:17 21:2 44:28 Jer 51:11)

Click to Enlarge

Behold (hinneh) is used to call attention to something and thus in this context directs the Daniel to give special attention. When you encounter a "behold" in Scripture, realize that God is trying to "get your attention" regarding what follows.

Regarding the figure of a ram, the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge has an interesting note...

The Medo-Persian empire, of which a ram was the ensign; and a ram's head with horns, one higher than the other, is still to be seen on the ruins of Persepolis

The Ram - From Daniel 8:20 this figure clearly symbolizes Medo-Persia, the kingdom which followed Babylon (which was still the leading world power at the time Daniel received this prophecy) although it would inferior to Babylon according to Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Da 2:39). In a separate prophecy given over 150 years earlier, Isaiah had foretold of the Persian King Cyrus' conquest of nations (see Isa 45:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

Vision of the Ram
Used by Permission of Ted Larson

Horns - Recall that where horn is used figuratively in Scripture, it usually conveys one of three meanings appear - (1) strength in general (Dt 33:17) (2) arrogant pride (Ps75:4-note, Ps 75:5-note) or (3) political and military power (Da 8:3, 4). The figure of a horn is even used in the NT as a description of the powerful ministry of the Messiah (Lk 1:68, 69 - Ryrie says "horn of salvation" in essence means "a powerful Savior")

Two horns...one longer...coming up last - The accuracy of God's Word is indisputable, not only describing Medo-Persia but the dominance of Persia over Media and the rise of Persia after Media. God's Word is inerrant as substantiated by this historically precise prophetic description. One is reminded of Peter's words that we as New Testament believers...

have the prophetic word (referring to the OT Scriptures) made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2Peter 1:19-note)
 

This description of the uneven horns corresponds to the bear in Daniel 7 where we read...

And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!' (Daniel 7:5-note)

In fact, the truths revealed in Daniel 8 help us to understand the otherwise somewhat enigmatic phrase of "raised up on one side", which most assuredly refers to Persia's subsequent ascendancy to a position of greater power over the more ancient Median counterpart.

Daniel 8:4 I SAW THE RAM BUTTING WESTWARD, NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND NO OTHER BEASTS COULD STAND BEFORE HIM NOR WAS THERE ANYONE TO RESCUE FROM HIS POWER, BUT HE DID AS HE PLEASED AND MAGNIFIED HIMSELF: (Butting: Da 5:30 7:5 11:2 Isa 45:1-5 Jer 50:1-51:64) (No other: Da 8:7 Job 10:7 Ps 7:2 50:22 Mic 5:8) (But he did: Da 5:19 11:3,16,36 Isa 10:13,14)

Westward, northward, and southward - With Persia as the starting point for the 3 directions, historically Medo-Persia defeated Babylon (and other countries) toward the west, Armenia and Scythia toward the north and Egypt and Ethiopia toward the South. Once again we see the historical fulfillment testifies to the accuracy and faithfulness of God's Word. Beloved, you can stake your life on His Word of Truth, which is like unto none other! Are you ingesting the Word of Life daily (Php 2:16-note, 1Jn 1:1, cp Dt 32:46, 47 "it is your life"!, cp Mt 4:4, 1Pe 2:2-note - no intake of "pure milk", no spiritual growth!)? If you are not daily reading the Word, then is it any wonder that you feel so "spiritually malnourished?" Let the accurate fulfillment of these OT prophecies spur you on to began a serious, systematic study of God's Word, not words about His Word (devotionals, commentaries, etc, but His living and active Word, which will not pass away) (If you're not sure where to begin here is a suggestion  - See notes on the incredible adventure known as inductive Bible study).

No other beasts - Similar to the symbolism in Daniel 7, we see God's assessment of the great kingdoms of men - they are "beastly"!

Daniel 8:5 WHILE I WAS OBSERVING, BEHOLD, A MALE GOAT WAS COMING FROM THE WEST OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GROUND; AND THE GOAT HAD A CONSPICUOUS HORN BETWEEN HIS EYES: (Male goat: Da 8:21 2:32,39 7:6) (A conspicuous horn:  Da 8:8,21, Da 11:3 = Alexander the Great)
 

Vision of the Goat
Used by Permission of Ted Larson

Behold - Another attention getter!

A male goat (he goat, KJV) - Remember that when we encounter symbolic language in Scripture, we must attempt to discover the literal meaning (and not let our imagination run wild as to the possible meanings, an all too common tactic among interpreters of Bible prophecy). Two ways to achieve our desired end of an accurate (literal) meaning (Symbolic or figurative language is always meant to convey a literal meaning) are (1) examination of the context for "clues" and (2) comparison with related or parallel passages (e.g., passages that use similar symbols but offer a literal interpretation - a good example is comparing the "the sun, and the moon...and...twelve stars in Rev 12:1-note with an almost identical description in Ge 37:9, 10). In the case of the male goat we do not have to guess at the interpretation, for comparison with Da 8:21 explicitly identifies the shaggy goat as the kingdom of Greece.

John Phillips writes that...

The goat was a symbol of Macedonia. According to tradition, Caremus, the first Macedonian king, was directed by an oracle to take a goat for a guide and build a city. This he did, following a herd of goats to Edessa, which he made his capital, changing its name to Egaea (the goat city).

When Alexander was thirteen, his father, Philip of Macedon, decided that the boy needed a first-class teacher, and he chose Aristotle. Aristotle believed that slavery was natural, that all barbarians (non-Greeks) were slaves by nature, and, consequently, that it was only right that Greeks should rule over barbarians. These view were heady stuff for the already ambitious Alexander.

After the death of his father, Alexander's first task was to thrash into submission the independent Greek city-states—something he did with characteristic speed and thoroughness. Very early, he displayed an uncanny trait of always being able to discern the enemy's tactics in advance. His treatment of the recalcitrant city of Thebes warned others of his ruthlessness. When he finally took the city, he handed it over to wholesale butchery and debauchery and sold the survivors as slaves. The other Greek states rushed to make their peace with the terrible new king. (Exploring the Book of Daniel: An Expository Commentary)

Coming from the west - While this direction might seem like an insignificant detail (no detail in Scripture is insignificant!), it once again demonstrates the inerrancy of God's fully inspired (plenary inspiration) Word, for the kingdom of Greece indeed lay directly to the west of Medo-Persia.

Without touching the ground - Comparing this figurative description with the parallel description in Daniel 7:6 (like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird), first indicates that the leopard symbolized Greece and second that they conquests of the ram by the goat would be rapid. Historically, Alexander the Great's Greek forces (much smaller in number than their Medo-Persian counterpart) was know for speed of their conquest (see note below by Miller)

A conspicuous horn between his eyes - Again Daniel 8:21 states this is the first king of Greece, which historically was "Alexander the Great."

Miller explains that...

Alexander was one of the great military strategists of history. He was born in 356BC, the son of a great conqueror in his own right, Philip of Macedon. Philip had united Greece with Macedonia and was planning to attack Persia when he was murdered. Alexander, educated under the famed Aristotle, was only twenty in 336BC when he succeeded his father as king. A year and a half later (334BC), he launched his attack against the Persians. In that same year Alexander won the Battle of the Granicus in Asia Minor, thereby bringing to an end the dominance of the Medo-Persian Empire. With his subsequent victories at Issus (333BC - see Battle of Issus) and Arbela (331BC - see Battle of Gaugamela or Arbela) the conquest of Medo-Persia was complete. Incredibly within only three years Alexander had conquered the entire Near East. (Miller, S. R. Vol. 18: Daniel. The New American Commentary Page 223. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)

Daniel 8:6 HE CAME UP TO THE RAM THAT HAD THE TWO HORNS, WHICH I HAD SEEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CANAL, AND RUSHED AT HIM IN HIS MIGHTY WRATH: (Da 8:3)

Mighty wrath - Notice that Da 8:7 adds that the goat was enraged at the ram. While this might not be easily interpreted in context, when one studies the historical relation between Greece and Medo-Persia, the meaning becomes clear.  Alexander was enraged at the Medo-Persians for having defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon (490BC) (see also  the Battle of Salamis in 480/481BC).

Daniel 8:7 I SAW HIM COME BESIDE THE RAM, AND HE WAS ENRAGED AT HIM; AND HE STRUCK THE RAM AND SHATTERED HIS TWO HORNS, AND THE RAM HAD NO STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND HIM. SO HE HURLED HIM TO THE GROUND AND TRAMPLED ON HIM, AND THERE WAS NONE TO RESCUE THE RAM FROM HIS POWER: (Enraged: Da 11:11) (Had no strength: Lev 26:37 Jos 8:20) (So he hurled: Da 7:7) (there was none: Da 8:4)

Was enraged - I like the KJV rendering "moved with choler against him".  Webster's 1828 gives us a picturesque definition of choler -

By the superabundance of this fluid, anger was formerly supposed to be produced; or perhaps the opinion was that the bile caused the inflamed appearance of the face in anger.  Hence, anger; wrath; irritation of the passions.

In other words, Alexander's aggression toward Medo-Persia was more than just a power play. It was also strongly motivated by a sense of indignation that sought vindication over a hated foe.

The ram had no strength to withstand him- Clearly the sovereign God had ordained that Greece was to supersede Medo-Persia at this time and no amount of human strength (size of armies, etc) could resist His sovereign will (cp God's decree against rebellious Israel in  Lev 26:37)

There was none to rescue from his power - Same phrase in Daniel 8:4 (nor was there anyone to rescue from his power). Remember that when Daniel was given this vision in about 551BC, the third year of Belshazzar's rule (Da 8:1), Babylon was still the leading power in the world and Greece was only a coalition of city states, not even a unified country. If we allow ourselves to read this from Daniel's (time) perspective, we will not be "bored" by the "history" but excited by the God of history Who fulfills His prophetic word. In turn, we will grow in our assurance and trust that He will fulfill His word in our lives, for example the promise that...

He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Php 1:6-note)
 

Daniel 8:8 THEN THE MALE GOAT MAGNIFIED HIMSELF EXCEEDINGLY. BUT AS SOON AS HE WAS MIGHTY, THE LARGE HORN WAS BROKEN; AND IN ITS PLACE THERE CAME UP FOUR CONSPICUOUS HORNS TOWARD THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN: (Magnified: Dt 31:20 Esther 9:4 Jer 5:27 Eze 16:7) (As soon as: Da 4:31 5:20 2Ch 26:16 Ps 82:6,7 Eze 28:9) (The large horn: Da 8:22 7:6 11:4) (toward: Da 7:2 Mt 24:31 Mk 13:27 Rev 7:1)

The male goat - Alexander the Great, the first king of Greece (Alexander the Great - Another brief Biography)

Magnified himself - While one might interpret this as Alexander enlarging his kingdom by his rapid conquest, another interpretation is that he grew exceedingly in arrogance. In other words, he really began to believe he was "the Great" as he is so often referred to by secular historians. He forgot (or never even understood) the truth expressed in Daniel 7:6-note that "dominion was given to" him by God.  For example, he was known to boast of his exploits and once complained that there were no more worlds to conquer. History records Alexander's assumption of the essence of "divinity", claiming to be a descendant of Zeus. His self magnification even caused him to require his troops to prostrate themselves before him in an act of obeisance (a movement of the body [bow] made as an act of reverence, respect or submission). It is little wonder that the next phrase states as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken. God is opposed to proud and "will tear down the house of the proud" (Pr 15:25) for "Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. Assuredly, he will not be unpunished." (Pr 16:5) Indeed, as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken.

Magnified (Hebrew gadal) generally means to become great or to grow. Thus gadal can refer to physical growth (as of people or living things) or of a "growth" of inanimate things (feelings = Job 2:13, authority). Gadal does not refer to being numerous, but to being great in size, importance etc. This verb frequently refers to divine greatness (2Sa 7:22, Ps 104:1-note, God's works = Ps 92:5-note, Messiah = Micah 5:4).

In Ezekiel 38:23 the verb gadal is used of God Who declares

I shall magnify (gadal) Myself, sanctify Myself (set Myself apart from the profane to the sacred), and make Myself known in the sight of many nations (~speaks of the Gentiles primarily); and they (the Gentiles) will know that I am the LORD."' (Ezekiel 38:23, cp Ps 35:27-note, Ps 40:16-note, Ps 70:4-note, 2Sa 7:26 = God's Name)

By means of God's intervention in the future, at the time when Gog comes against the land of Israel (Ezek 38:18), the Holy One of Israel (This great name of God occurs 31x in NAS = 2 Ki 19:22 Ps 71:22 78:41 89:18 Isa 1:4 5:19 5:24 10:20 12:6 17:7 29:19 30:11 30:12 30:15 31:1 37:23 41:14 41:16 41:20 43:3 43:14 45:11 47:4 48:17 49:7 54:5 55:5 60:9 60:14 Jer 50:29 51:5) will clearly demonstrate to the Gentile nations that He is God and that there is no other. 

In another use gadal speaks of man exalting himself over God, Isaiah asking...

Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt (magnify = gadal) itself over the one who wields it? (Figuratively referring to a man who would seek to magnify himself) That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. (Isaiah 10:15)
 

Finally, and most relevant to the future of Israel, gadal is used to describe the actions of the Antichrist at the time of the end, as he seeks to show himself omnipotent.

Then the king (in context = the Antichrist) will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify (gadal) himself above every god, and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation ( = Great Tribulation) is finished, for that which is decreed will be done (I.e., God is in control! God is sovereign! He says it, that settles it!). And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify (gadal) himself above them all. (Daniel 11:36, 37)
 

So when Daniel records that Alexander magnified himself, it appears to speak most directly to his self magnification. To be sure his genius as one of the world's greatest military strategists garnered a considerable "magnification" from both his friends and his foes, but this verse suggests an additional magnification, a selfish innate arrogance. In a sense, Alexander (as alluded to above), much like the Antichrist will do, attempted to put himself in the position of highest esteem among men, a position that ultimately belongs to God alone (cp 2Th 2:3, 4). And so we are not surprised that Alexander was quickly "cut down" in the prime of his power. God is steadfastly and forever arrayed against those who would be proud and seek the glory that belongs to Him alone (cp a "good prayer" for each of us = Ps 115:1-note). As believers, we do well to be reminded of this important truth, lest we stop up the supernatural life giving flow of His grace in our lives, even as described by James who states that God...

gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED (antitasso in the present tense = God's continual attitude toward the self-sufficient individual. He continually sets Himself in array against our pride, even as an army goes out to array itself against a host in preparation for a battle! Woe!) TO THE PROUD (huperephanos from huper = over, above, + phaíno = shine = one who shines above or shows himself above his fellows. Pride is that basic sin from which all others issue), BUT GIVES (the present tense signifies God's giving is not just a one time gift but is a continual bestowal from an infinite Source, Christ Jesus = Jn 1:14 grace and truth, Jn 1:16 grace "piled upon" grace!) GRACE (charis  = God’s generous favor to undeserving sinners and needy saints) TO THE HUMBLE (tapeinos = low, not high, not rising far from the ground and speaks of the creature's attitude of a "freedom from pride and arrogance" and maintenance of a proper "low" view of one's own importance = a lowliness of mind [in comparison to the Creator].  In Scripture, the humble are those who readily recognize their insufficiency and depend wholly on His sufficiency)." (James 4:6-note)

Comment: So even as Alexander magnified himself, in effect setting himself against God Almighty (El Shaddai), God repaid his sin of pride "with the same coin", suddenly breaking "the Great" at the height of his power! A powerful lesson from history, to keep us all wary of the ever present danger of pride in its various disguises, sometimes subtle, sometimes readily apparent!

Indeed we have previously encountered a prime example of God's steadfast opposition to the pride of the "great" Nebuchadnezzar, the "head of gold" (Da 2:38-note), Daniel recording that at the apex of his power...

The king (Nebuchadnezzar) reflected and said,

'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself (cp Alexander who "magnified himself") have built as a royal residence by the might of my power (look again at Da 2:38-note!) and for the glory of my majesty?' (Da 4:30)

While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying

King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you (cp the removal of Alexander's sovereignty), and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws. (Da 4:30, 31, 32, 33)

FOUR
CONSPICUOUS
HORNS

Four conspicuous horns - This is an incredibly specific and, from the world's viewpoint, very unusual prophecy. When most rulers die, they have prepared an heir, but not so with Alexander (in vain he designated a future son by the Persian princess Roxana as his successor), whose untimely death at age 33 (some commentaries record age 32) accounts for his failure to prepare a proper heir.

Instead, just as God had predicted through Daniel in 551BC, four of Alexander's generals (called the Diadochi which is the Greek word = "successors") eventually divided up his kingdom after an initial period of (some 20 years) of infighting.

And so again we see how Scripture helps us interpret Scripture (See one Key to Accurate Interpretation - Comparing Scripture with Scripture) and explain the earlier vision of...

one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (Daniel 7:6-note)

Comment: The four wings is a picture of the speed with which the "leopard" (Alexander's forces) was able to move and conquer, while the four heads clearly correspond to the four conspicuous horns, the four successors to Alexander's divided empire.

FOUR WINDS
OF HEAVEN

Grecian Empire:
Four Divisions

The map above (click to enlarge) shows Alexander's empire demarcated by the red lines. After Alexander died abruptly at age 32, the kingdom was eventually divided between 4 of his generals as follows:

(1) South - Ptolemy (dark green portion south of Israel - Egypt)

(2) East -  Seleucus (yellow portion north of Israel -Syria, Babylonia, East toward India)

(3) North -  Lysimachus (purple - Thrace, Bithynia)

(4) West -  Cassander (pink - Macedonia)

As the scene unfolds in exquisite detail in the parallel passages in Daniel 11 (see notes), the kingdoms of Ptolemy and Seleucus take center stage in the drama, while the kingdoms of Lysimachus and Cassander vanish off the scene of history. Why the focus on only two of the four divisions? Because the Biblical drama centers on the two kingdoms which most directly affect/impact Israel, the "apple of God's eye" (Dt 32:10KJV) which was situated geographically between the the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms.

W A Criswell makes this comment on Daniel 8:8...

No more remarkable or accurate prediction could ever be imagined than this detailed analysis of the Grecian Empire.

John Walvoord sums up this great passage noting that...

Expositors, both liberal and conservative, have interpreted this verse as representing the untimely death of Alexander and the division of his empire into four major sections. Alexander, who had conquered more of the world than any previous ruler, was not able to conquer himself. Partly due to a strenuous exertion, his dissipated life, and a raging fever, Alexander died in a drunken debauch at Babylon, not yet thirty-three years of age. His death left a great conquest without an effective single leader, and it took about twenty years for the empire to be successfully divided.

KOINE GREEK
AND
THE FULNESS OF TIME

As an aside, one of the effects of Alexander's conquest of the "whole earth" (Da 8:5) was that God used him to spread the Greek culture to all the lands he conquered. One of the most important elements was the spread of the Koine Greek language, or the common dialect of the Greeks, which became the commercial "lingua franca" (the common language) of the whole earth. Even more importantly from a theological perspective, Koine Greek became the language which the Hebrew scholars used to translate the Hebrew text of the Old Testament into Greek, thus making it accessible to all the known world, but especially to the Jews who had become more proficient in Greek than in the ancient Hebrew. The Koine Greek continued to be the important in the time of Jesus and thus was the language in which the New Testament was written. In short, the sovereign God of the universe had made certain that the Koine Greek language was the leading language of the entire known world so that all the world could potentially read about His redemptive plan for mankind, which helps one understand Paul's phrase in Galatians 4...

But when the fulness of the time came (God's appointed time = the "perfect time" in history), God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4,5)

Comment: When God had prepared the language (Koine Greek) in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be recorded and had also prepared the roads (Roman system of roads interconnected major metropolitan areas) on which His missionaries would travel to spread the Gospel, then He had brought about the fulness of time and it was then time to send His Son Who would live out the plan of redemption that would be written down in Koine Greek. What an awesome, loving God we are privileged to know and serve. He desires that all come to know Him and He saw to it that the infrastructure was in place to at least make that possible for both kings and paupers throughout the ancient world.

John MacArthur has these additional comments on the "fulness of time" - The fulness of time refers to the completion of the period of preparation in God’s sovereign timetable of redemption. When the law had fully accomplished its purpose of showing man his utter sinfulness and inability to live up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness, God ushered in a new era of redemption. When He sent forth His Son, He provided the righteousness for man that man could not provide for himself. When Jesus was born, everything was right for the coming of the Messiah.

First of all, the time was right religiously. During the Babylonian captivity, Israel once and for all forsook the idolatry into which she had so often fallen. Despite their many other sins and failures, including the national rejection of their own Messiah, no significant number of Jews has ever again turned to idolatry. Also during the Exile, Jews developed synagogues, which they used as places of worship, as schools, and as courts. In addition to that, they at last had the completed Old Testament, assembled by Ezra and others after the return from Babylon. Those features facilitated the proclaiming of the Messiah’s gospel among the people of Israel.

Second, the time was right culturally. Christians who propagated the gospel during the first several centuries had a common language (Ed: Koine Greek) with those to whom they witnessed and with whom they worshiped. Alexander the Great had thoroughly established Greek culture and language throughout the known world, and these continued their dominating influence long after Rome succeeded Greece as world ruler.

Third, the time was right politically. Rome had instituted the Pax Romana (Roman peace), which provided economic and political stability. The apostles and other early preachers and teachers could travel freely and safely throughout the empire and could do so on the magnificent system of roads built by the Romans.

Each of those factors was in some unique way a key to the spread of the gospel. God’s timing was perfect (Ed: Beloved, isn't it always!). (MacArthur, J. Galatians. Chicago: Moody Press - in book form or in computer format - Logos or Wordsearch)
 

Daniel 8:9 OUT OF ONE OF THEM CAME FORTH A RATHER SMALL HORN WHICH GREW EXCEEDINGLY GREAT TOWARD THE SOUTH, TOWARD THE EAST, AND TOWARD THE BEAUTIFUL LAND: (Came: Da 8:23,24 7:8,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Da 11:21,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) (Beautiful: Da 11:16,41,45 Ps 48:2 105:24 Jer 3:19 Eze 20:6,15 Zec 7:14)

THE RATHER
SMALL HORN

Out of one of them - Comparing the contextual description of the rather small horn (Da 8:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25) with the historical record, the one of them is a reference to the Seleucid kingdom centered in Syria (Aram in the OT).

The ESV and KJV translations of "a little horn" could easily lead one to misinterpret this passage.

A rather small horn (Literally = "a horn from a small one") (hereafter abbreviated "RSH") ("Small horn" = NET) - Remembering that horn when used figuratively (as here) usually symbolizes the exercise of power or might, who is the small horn? While not mentioned by name in Daniel 8, the historical record leaves little doubt that this person is the eighth ruler of the Seleucid dynasty, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (epi = upon + phaino = shine > literally "one who shines upon" = visible, clear, manifest, splendid, illustrious, conspicuous, notable, wonderful, glorious) who reigned over the Seleucid Empire from 175-164BC.

He assumed divine epithets, which no other Hellenistic king had done, such as Theos Epiphanes (Greek = God Manifest) and after his defeat of Egypt, Nikephoros (Greek = mean "Bearer of Victory"). But his often eccentric behavior, capricious actions and even insanity led some of his contemporaries to call him Epimanes ("The Mad One"), a word play off of his title Epiphanes. (Wikipedia)

Small - It is interesting that the Hebrew word for small  (tsaiyr) not only means "little" but also conveys the sense of that which is insignificant (cp 1Sa 9:21 = Saul's claim to be "the least" - Would it be that he had remained humble! Cp the use in Ps 119:141 where the psalmist describes himself as "small [insignificant] and despised"). Not surprising this noun tsaiyr was used to describe the last born ("small" in age - e.g., "younger" in Ge 19:31, Ge 29:26, Ge 43:33), for this birth order in the Hebrew culture was the least significant in terms of privilege. Bethlehem was described as too "little (~insignificant) to be among the clans of Judah" (Micah 5:2).

And so the use of small (tsaiyr) in the description of Antiochus indicates that he would have an insignificant beginning.

The RSH is clearly not the Little Horn (LH) (aka, the future Antichrist) of Daniel 7:8 as indicated by comparing the two entities in the following table. In view of these clear distinctions between the RSH and the LH, it is very surprising to see some generally excellent commentators like Henry Morris make statements like

This "little horn" is evidently the same as the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8, the Beast of the end-times, also known as the Antichrist. (Morris, Henry: Defenders Study Bible. World Publishing).

Once again, the reader can see the importance of doing his or her own observations of the text (see also inductive Bible study) so that they will be able to accurately comment on the commentaries!

Gleason Archer offers an insightful comment that helps understand why there is so much detail concerning the RSH noting that his origin...

from the third kingdom serves as a prototype of the little horn of the fourth kingdom. The crisis destined to confront God’s people in the time of the earlier little horn, Antiochus Epiphanes, will bear a strong similarity to the crisis that will befall them in the eschatological or final phase of the fourth kingdom in the last days (as Christ himself foresaw in the Olivet Discourse - Mt 24:15).

Grew exceeding great - This speaks of the increasing power and conquests of other land by the RSH, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Toward the south...east...the Beautiful - From historical records we know that the RSH (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) made made conquests in each of these directions (if we take Syria as his base of operations then the directions make perfect sense): South - Egypt, East - Persia, Parthia, Armenia; The Beautiful Land - Israel. If you look at a map of this region, you will note that "the Beautiful Land" is also South of Syria, and it is singled out because of the significant (evil) impact Antiochus would have on God's land and God's people.

The Beautiful land (tsebiy/sebiy) - Signifies the land of Israel here and in the other two uses in Daniel (Da 11:16, Da 11:41). In Da 11:45 tsebiy/sebiy refers "to the beautiful Holy Mountain", Jerusalem. The beauty was not so much that it was physically beautiful but spoke of the spiritual beauty. God had chosen this tiny plot of otherwise non-descript land to be the center stage for His "beautiful" drama of redemption (Christ Crucifixion at Calvary) and the throne of the Beautiful One, Christ the King in the Millennium (In the Temple at Jerusalem).
 

This Hebrew noun (tsebiy/sebiy) is the superlative of splendor. Depending on the context this noun can describe a gazelle or (as in this verse) something beautiful or glorious, such as the glorious land which God gave Israel, a land that flowed with milk and honey (Ezek 20:6, 15 = "glory") or "a delightful land" (Mal 3:12). It is notable that occasionally this noun is used to refer to God Himself  (Isa 4:2-note  = referring to the "Branch", the Messiah at the time of His reign in the Millennium; Isa 28:5).

Miller explains why God gave Daniel this vision in Daniel 8 noting that...

In the previous chapter God (Daniel 7) had given a preview of (Gentile) world history with emphasis on the end times, particularly the evil activities of the Antichrist (the "Little Horn", (cp "time, times and half a time" Da 7:25-note). God’s people (Jews) also needed to be warned of another crisis that would come in less than four hundred years after Daniel’s lifetime—the persecutions of a madman named Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164BC). It would be one of the most horrible periods in history for believers (Ed: Referring to believing Jews, also known as the believing remnant), a time when the very existence of the true religion (Judaism) and its adherents was threatened. God knew that for those brief—only a few years (Ed: 2300 days)—but extremely dark days His people would need a supernatural revelation to encourage them as they faced their “great tribulation.” (Ed: As horrible as this time was for Israel, it was but a foretaste of the endtimes Great Tribulation about which Jesus had warned His disciples in the Olivet Discourse in Mt 24-25) (Ibid) (Bolding and links added)

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (AE) (compiled from various sources)...

His name Epiphanes means Manifest, Conspicuous, Illustrious. The Jews mocked his name, calling him Antiochus Epimanes ("Madman")

Of Grecian descent, and specifically a Syrian. He was born about 215 BC and died 164BC.

He ruled the Seleucid Empire (East Division of Alexander the Great's empire) from 175-164 BC.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was singled out for a detailed description in Daniel 8  (also described in Da 11:21-35) because of his evil treatment of the Jews of Palestine, his opposition to God's Temple in Jerusalem and his attempts to get rid of God's Word of Truth, the Scriptures. 

AE was anti-Semitic to the core. He assaulted Jerusalem, murdering over 40,000 in three days, and selling an equal number into cruel slavery. It is thought that on September 6, 171 B.C., he began his evil actions toward the Temple.

Notable events during the reign of Antiochus IV include his near-conquest of Egypt, which led to a confrontation that became an origin of the metaphorical phrase, "line in the sand" and the rebellion of the Jewish Maccabees.

He assumed divine epithets, which no other Hellenistic king had done, such as Theos Epiphanes ("God Manifest") and after his defeat of Egypt, Nikephoros ("Bearer of Victory"). But his often eccentric behavior, capricious actions and possible insanity led some to call him Epimanes ("The Mad One").

He was the Son of Antiochus III who became king after his brother, Seleucus IV, was murdered. As a boy Antiochus lived at Rome as a hostage. The Pergamene monarchs, Eumenes and Attalus, succeeded in placing upon the throne the brother of Seleucus, although Heliodorus had wished to ascend the throne himself. The young king was even more enterprising than his father. He was called in to settle a quarrel between Onias III and his brother, Jason, the leader of the Hellenizing faction in Jerusalem, and Onias was driven out (2Macc 4:4, 5, 6). Jason became high priest in his stead (2Macc 4:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16; 1Macc 1:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). Antiochus himself afterward visited Jerusalem and was signally honored (2Macc 4:22).

On the death of Ptolemy VI in 173, Antiochus laid claim to Coelesyria, Palestine and Phoenicia; whereupon war broke out between Syria and Egypt. In this war Antiochus was victorious. Ptolemy Philometor was taken prisoner, and Antiochus had himself crowned king of Egypt (171-167 BC) at Memphis; whereupon Alexandria revolted and chose Ptolemy's brother as their king. The Roman ambassador, Popilius Laenas, demanded the surrender of Egypt and the immediate withdrawal of its self-constituted king. Antiochus yielded; gave up Pelusium and withdrew his fleet from Cyprus, but retained Coelesyria, Palestine and Phoenicia.

While Antiochus was on a second campaign in Egypt, he heard of the siege of Jerusalem. He returned immediately, slew many thousands of the inhabitants and robbed the temple of its treasures (1Macc 1:20, 21, 22, 23, 24; 2Macc 5:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21). By his prohibition of the Jewish worship and his introduction or substitution of the worship of the false "god" Zeus (1Macc 1:54; 2Macc 6:2) he brought about a revolt among the faithful remnant of Jews under the leadership of Judas Maccabees who fought against Antiochus IV Epiphanes during the years 167-164 BC. After this war Antiochus retired to the eastern provinces and died, after having failed in an attack on the temple of the Sun in Elymais, in Persia.

All through Palestine altars to Jupiter were set up and the Jews were forced to sacrifice on them. But at a little Jewish town called Modin (seventeen miles northwest of Jerusalem) there lived a Jewish priest named Mattathias, of the House of Hasmon. He had five sons and this brave old man not only refused to worship Antiochus' idols, but boldly slew the king's religious ambassador. The Jewish revolt was on. One of his sons was named Judas and he was called the Maccabee, which means "the hammer''.

For the next few years Judas successfully led an army of Jews against the Syrians. Their brave exploits are described in two Apocrypha books, first and second Maccabees. On December 25, 164/165BC, the Jewish patriots cleansed and rededicated the Temple Antiochus had defiled. One day’s supply of oil miraculously kept the golden lampstand burning for eight days. This cleansing has been celebrated by the Jews as the Feast of Dedication (Jn 10:22).

Daniel 8:10 IT GREW UP TO THE HOST OF HEAVEN AND CAUSED SOME OF THE HOST AND SOME OF THE STARS TO FALL TO THE EARTH, AND IT TRAMPLED THEM DOWN: (to the host: or, against the host, Da 8:24,25 11:28,30,33, 34, 35, 36) (Trampled:  Da 8:7 7:7)

This is a difficult verse to interpret for it is filled with figurative language. The question clearly is what is the literal interpretation of host and stars? Are these angelic beings as some commentators maintain? Or are they human beings, and specifically are they Jews?

Host (tsaba') primarily describes military service (and so an army, a military congregation to serve as a fighting unit) and came to mean service or labor (Nu 4:3, 23). Tsaba' was used to describe the heavenly realm of angels and stars (Ge 2:1 Ps 33:6 Isa 40:26) and part of one of the great names of God Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies).

Keeping the context in mind and noting specifically "It" refers to the RSH (Antiochus IV Epiphanes), it makes little sense to ascribe the meaning of angelic beings to either host and /or stars. Further, if one compares the use of host in Da 8:12 and Da 8:13, the reasonable interpretation is that host refers to the Jews. Constable agrees writing that Da 8:12 "...makes identification of the host as the Jews rather than angels almost certain." (Bolding added) In addition, the premise that host represents the Jews is substantiated by the fact that Israel is occasionally referred to elsewhere in Scripture as God's hosts (Ex 7:4, cp Ex 12:17, 41, Nu 33:1 where "armies" is same Hebrew word tsaba' translated "hosts").

If one examines the historical records of time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, there is clear documentation of the facts that (1) many of Jews transgressed the covenant motivated/coerced by the evil influence of Antiochus Epiphanes (which would be compatible with the phrase "the transgression of the host" in Da 8:12) and (2) many "non-compliant" Jews (probably either "orthodox" or actually genuine believers) were mercilessly slaughtered by Antiochus (compare this historical record with the phrase "host...trampled" in Da 8:13).

Leupold writes...

That stars should signify God’s holy people (the Jews) is not strange when one considers as a background the words that were spoken to Abraham concerning the numerical increase of the people of God, Ge 15:5; Ge 22:17. To this may be added Da 12:3, where a star like glory is held out to those who “turn many to righteousness.” (cp Mt 13:43)...(He adds) If the world calls those men and women stars who excel in one or another department of human activity, why should not a similar statement be still more appropriate with reference to God’s people?

The stars - In addition to Leupold's insightful comment above, when we compare Revelation 12:1-note, we observe that the "great sign" had "twelve stars" which in context most clearly describes the 12 sons of Jacob as described in Joseph's dream in Genesis 38:7 (Click for more detailed discussion of this point)

Phillips comments that the...

"host of heaven" is a poetical description of God's chosen people; "the stars" are prominent individuals among them. (Ibid)

Trampled - This Hebrew word means to tread upon, as when one presses on object (or person) with the foot upon an object, which gives the picture that the object stamped on is conquered, harmed or even killed, all of which were historically fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes' treatment of the Jews in God's Beautiful land!

Daniel 8:11 IT EVEN MAGNIFIED ITSELF TO BE EQUAL WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE HOST; AND IT REMOVED THE REGULAR SACRIFICE FROM HIM, AND THE PLACE OF HIS SANCTUARY WAS THROWN DOWN: (Magnified: Da 8:25 5:23 2Ki 19:22,23 2Ch 32:15-22 Isa 37:23,29 Jer 48:26,42, Compare the Antichrist - Da 7:25, 11:36, 2Th 2:4 Rev 13:5, 6, 7) (Commander of the host:  Jos 5:14,15 Heb 2:10 Rev 17:14 19:13-16) (Regular sacrifice: Da 8:12 11:31 12:11 Ex 29:38-42 Nu 28:3 Eze 46:14)

Magnified...equal with the Commander - In essence Antiochus made himself equal with God, a pre-figuring of the even more evil future persecutor of the Jews, the Little Horn (the Antichrist - see Da 7:21, Da 7:25, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, Rev 13:7) who will oppose and exalt "himself above every so-called god or object of worship...displaying himself as being God." (2Thes 2:3, 4).

The Disciple's Study Bible note on God's sovereignty as related to this verse reminds us that...

Human monarchs may establish famous empires through treachery, intrigue, and evil; but their success will be temporary. No one can oppose God and escape punishment. Only God rules forever.

Commander of the host (KJV = Prince) - While one could use this passage to support the premise that host signifies angels (host can also mean armies - as the angelic armies of heaven), it could also indicate the God of the Jews, an interpretation I feel fits better with the immediate context. Although some notes suggest this might be an angel (like Michael - see NET notes), the fact that the regular sacrifice is removed from Him, leaves little doubt that this is clearly a divine title.

Notice that some versions like the NLT render this phrase in such a way as to clearly favor the interpretation of hosts as heavenly rather than earthly ("Commander of heaven's army"). This is another reason the serious student of Scripture should assiduously avoid paraphrased versions!

Removed the regular sacrifice from Him - In context this refers to the cessation of the sacrifices that were offered to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. As discussed below, Antiochus replaced the Biblical sacrifices to God with sacrifices to idols, including sacrifice of an unclean animal a pig in God's Sanctuary!

The apocryphal book First Maccabees records a number of acts during the ruthless reign of the Rather Small Horn and focuses especially on his evil actions against the Jews...

Then the king (the RSH, Antiochus IV Epiphanes) wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, each abandoning his particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many Israelites were in favor of his religion (Ed: Idolatry); they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath (Ed: Cp "the transgression of the hosts" Da 8:12 referring to faithless Jews). The king  sent messengers with letters to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; to prohibit holocausts (Ed: hol = whole + kaustos = burnt > whole burnt offerings - makes one ponder the horrible Nazi holocaust!), sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the Sabbaths and feast days, to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers, to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to let themselves be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination, so that they might forget the law and change all their observances. Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king should be put to death. Such were the orders he published throughout his kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people, and he ordered the cities of Judah to offer sacrifices, each city in turn (Ed: Sacrifices to idols not to the Living God). Many of the people, those who abandoned the law (Ed: Jews who abandoned the Law of God), joined them and committed evil in the land. Israel (Ed: Those who would not capitulate to Antiochus' godless decrees) was driven into hiding, wherever places of refuge could be found. 

On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king (Antiochus) erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of holocausts, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burnt incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt. (Ed: Antiochus tried to rid the land of Israel of the Word of God!) Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.

So they used their power against Israel, against those who were caught, each month, in the cities. On the twenty-fifth day of each month they sacrificed on the altar erected over the altar of holocausts. Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree, with the babies hung from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.

But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel. (1 Mac 1:41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)

The place of His sanctuary - The Temple of God in Jerusalem.

Was thrown down - "Thrown down" does not mean that the temple was destroyed but that it was defiled by the abominations of Antiochus Epiphanes. The Septuagint (LXX) translation supports this interpretation rendering this verse "the holy place shall be made desolate."

On December 15, 168 BC,  the desecration of the Temple reached an ultimate low, when Antiochus apparently sacrificed a pig on an idol altar in the Temple. He then forced the Jewish priests to swallow its flesh, made a broth of it, and sprinkled the entire Temple with the abominable broth. He carried off the golden candlesticks, table of shewbread, altar of incense, various other vessels, and destroyed the sacred books of the Law. A large image of the Roman "god" Jupiter (Greek counterpart = Zeus), the so-called "king of the gods", was erected in the Holy of Holies. The horrified Jews referred to these despicable actions as "the abomination of desolation" (see description of Antiochus abomination in Da 11:31). In carrying out these despicable acts against God's Temple and God's people, he gave a "preview of coming attractions" to be fulfilled in the end of time when the Antichrist commits the ultimate abomination of desolation (cp Da 9:27, Mt 24:15, 2Th 2:3,4).

First Maccabees records that after his first conquest in Egypt, Antiochus IV Epiphanes...

returned and went up to Israel and to Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently invaded the sanctuary and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its fixtures, the offering table, the cups and the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple. He stripped off everything, and took away the gold and silver and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. (1Macc 1:20, 21, 22, 23, cp 1 Macc 4:48)

Daniel 8:12 AND ON ACCOUNT OF TRANSGRESSION THE HOST WILL BE GIVEN OVER TO THE HORN ALONG WITH THE REGULAR SACRIFICE; AND IT WILL FLING TRUTH TO THE GROUND AND PERFORM ITS WILL AND PROSPER: (Fling truth: Ps 119:43,142 Isa 59:14 2Th 2:10-12 ) (Perform its will: Da 8:4 11:28,36 1Sa 23:9 Job 12:6 Jer 12:1 Rev 13:11-17)

Transgression the host - The sins of the Jews against God and His covenant would result in God giving them over to the RSH, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. First Maccabees records events that are very compatible with the transgression of the Jews...

In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law (see note above), and they seduced many people, saying: “Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king (Antiochus IV Epiphanes), and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing...43 and many Israelites were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath. (1 Mac 1:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 43).

It (RSH) will fling truth to the ground - Antiochus forbade the reading of the Old Testament scriptures, going so far as to execute those who broke his decree (see preceding quotation from 1Maccabees 1:44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49).

Will prosper (salach/salah - also used in Da 8:24, 25) - The root idea of this verb is that Antiochus IV Epiphanes will accomplish satisfactorily what he intends (evil!). Generally this word expresses the idea of a successful venture, as contrasted with failure. Note however that just as with the Antichrist (who has only 1260 days to "prosper" - see Rev 13:5), God allows Antiochus Epiphanes only 2300 days. His "dark" day in the sun will come to an end because God is in control and has set  limits on his evil actions against the Jews.

As alluded to earlier many of the aspects of the evil reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes are but a foreshadowing of similar aspects of the reign of terror of the Antichrist. And so we note that Daniel 11 describes the fact that the Antichrist will prosper...

Then the king (Antichrist) will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god (2Th 2:4), and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods (Rev 13:6, Da 7:7, Da 7:25); and he will prosper (salach/salah) until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. (Da 11:36)

Comment: The indignation in this context refers to the 3.5 year period of the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist will be allowed by the Most High God (and empowered by Satan - Rev 13:2, 2Thes 2:9) to "prosper" for 1260 days and no more, for then he will come to destruction (Da 7:11, Da 7:26, Da 11:45, 2Thes 2:8, 9, Rev 17:8, Rev 17:11) (even as Antiochus Epiphanes comes to destruction without human agency - Da 8:25).
 

Daniel 8:13 THEN I HEARD A HOLY ONE SPEAKING, AND ANOTHER HOLY ONE SAID TO THAT PARTICULAR ONE WHO WAS SPEAKING, "HOW LONG WILL THE VISION ABOUT THE REGULAR SACRIFICE APPLY, WHILE THE TRANSGRESSION CAUSES HORROR, SO AS TO ALLOW BOTH THE HOLY PLACE AND THE HOST TO BE TRAMPLED?: (Holy one: Da 4:13 7:16 12:5,6 De 33:2 Zec 1:9-12,19 2:3,4 14:5 1Th 3:13 1Pe 1:12 Jude 1:14) (How long: Da 12:6 Ps 74:9 79:5 Isa 6:11 Rev 6:10)

I heard a holy one - While the text does not define the identity of the holy one, most interpreters agree that these represent angelic beings. What is amazing is that the angels are indeed interested in human events, seeking to know when the desecration of God's Temple and His saints, the Jews, would be freed from the evil effects of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

The transgression causes horror (transgression that makes desolate = ESV, rebellion that causes desolation = NIV) - Here the transgression appear to refer to the desecration of the holy place brought about by Antiochus.

Horror (shamem/samem) describes desolation caused by some great disaster, usually a result of divine judgment. In the present context the judgment is being meted out by Antiochus Epiphanes but God is sovereign even over the desolation of judgment.

Shamem/samem - Used 7v in Daniel - Da 8:13, 27; Da 9:18, 26, Da 9:27; Da 11:31; Da 12:11
 

Daniel 8:14 HE SAID TO ME, "FOR 2,300 EVENINGS AND MORNINGS; THEN THE HOLY PLACE WILL BE PROPERLY RESTORED: (Other time prophetic time phrases but all referring to different events than the present verse: Da 7:25 12:7,11 Rev 11:2,3 12:14 13:5 - all relate in some way to Daniel's Seventieth Week)

He said to me - The holy one turns to Daniel and gives the pronouncement.

2,300 evenings and mornings (See similar time phrase in Ge 1:5) - Daniel could take some comfort from knowing that there would be an end to the desecration of the holy place. If these are 2300 literal days as most commentators interpret this phrase, these horrid events would persists for over 6 years (6 years and 20 days)! This could hardly be a reference to the Great Tribulation which lasts for 1260 days. However this event in the history of Israel certainly foreshadowed that future time of horrible persecution of Israel by the Antichrist (Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14).

Rich Cathers notes that...
 

William Miller thought this meant 2300 years, and starting from 457BC figured that Christ would return in 1843. When it didn't happen, he recalculated and said it would happen in 1844. When that didn't happen, a lady named Ellen G. White came along and said that Jesus really did come in 1844 but only those on the inside knew about it and this was the start of the Seventh Day Adventists.

Will be properly restored - The Hebrew verb here is tsadaq which in the Niphal (passive) literally means to be made righteous. Young's Literal renders it "then is the holy place declared right". The idea seems to be that the Temple that had been defiled by the actions of Antiochus was made ceremonially right (righteous). The Septuagint uses the verb katharizo (word study) which can be translated "the sanctuary shall be cleansed" (cp the statement in 1 Macc 4:48).

The Jews celebrate the cleansing of the Temple in December 25, 164BC with the Feast of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of the Dedication (John 10:22) or the Festival of Lights (see 1Macc 4:56). 

Donald Campbell records the following interesting quote...

A persecutor of the Jews in Russia asked a Jew what he thought the outcome would be if the wave of persecutions continued. The Jew answered, ‘The result will be a feast! Pharaoh tried to destroy the Jews, but the result was the Passover (Ex 12:11, 21, 26, 27, Lev 23:5). Haman attempted to destroy the Jews, but the result was the Feast of Purim (Wikipedia) (Esther 9:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32). Antiochus Epiphanes tried to destroy the Jews, but the result was the Feast of Dedication (Jn 10:22).

Daniel 8:15 WHEN I, DANIEL, HAD SEEN THE VISION, I SOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND IT; AND BEHOLD, STANDING BEFORE ME WAS ONE WHO LOOKED LIKE A MAN: (Da 7:28) (Understand: Da 7:16-19 12:8 Mt 13:36 24:15 Mk 4:12 13:14 1Pe 1:10,11 Rev 13:18) (Like a man:  Da 10:5,16 Jos 5:14 Isa 9:6 Eze 1:26-28 Mt 24:30 Rev 1:13)

One who looked like a man - The angel Gabriel (Da 8:16), the first angel named in Scripture and one of only two named (good) angels (Satan a fallen angel is of course named), the other being the archangel Michael (cp Da 10:13, 21)

Daniel 8:16 AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF A MAN BETWEEN THE BANKS OF ULAI, AND HE CALLED OUT AND SAID, "GABRIEL, GIVE THIS MAN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE VISION: (I heard: Da 10:11,12 Ac 9:7 10:13 Rev 1:12) (Give this man: Da 9:22 10:14,21 12:7 Zec 1:9 2:4 Heb 1:14 Rev 22:16)

The voice of a man - Surely this is God. Notice here He speaks with a human voice.

Gabriel ("hero of God", "warrior of God") - 4x in 4v - Da 8:16 9:21 Luke 1:19, 26

The writer of Hebrews explains one of the ministries of God's angels asking...

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14-note)

Daniel 8:17 SO HE CAME NEAR TO WHERE I WAS STANDING, AND WHEN HE CAME I WAS FRIGHTENED AND FELL ON MY FACE; BUT HE SAID TO ME, "SON OF MAN, UNDERSTAND THAT THE VISION PERTAINS TO THE TIME OF THE END: (I was: Da 10:7,8,16 Ge 17:3 Eze 1:28 Mt 17:8 Mk 9:4,5 Rev 1:17 19:9,10 Rev 22:8) (Understand: Da 8:15 9:23 10:11) (Son of man:  Ezek 2:1 6:2) (The time of the end: Da 8:19 9:27 11:35,36 12:4,13 Hab 2:3

A SERIES OF
TIME PHRASES

The time of the end - There is some disagreement about what "time period" this phrase (and the two that follow in Da 8:19) refers. Walvoord summarizes the four major views...

(View #1) the historical view that all of Daniel 8 has been fulfilled;

(View #2) the futuristic view, the idea that it is entirely future;

(View #3) the view based upon the principle of dual fulfillment of prophecy, that Daniel 8 is intentionally a prophetic reference both to Antiochus Epiphanes, now fulfilled, and to the end of the age and the final world ruler who persecutes Israel before the second advent;

(View #4) the view that the passage is prophecy, historically fulfilled but intentionally typical of similar events and personages at the end of the age.

Examination of ancient secular writings and the historical record of the apocryphal book of First Maccabees (providing information about persons and events in Jewish history during the Second century BC) strongly support the fact that the description of the rise and fall of the Rather Small Horn (RSH) in Daniel 8 has been fulfilled in the person of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (View #1).

Based on the fact that the RSH emerges from the kingdom of Greece in its "four horn stage" and the Little Horn (Antichrist) emerges from the "revived" stage of the "DT Beast" ("Revived" Rome) in its ten horn/ten king stage, the events of Daniel 8 cannot readily be explained as solely a future fulfillment (View #2).

On the other hand, the time phrases (see following explanation) in Daniel 8:17 (pertains to the time of the end) and Daniel 8:19 (the final period of the indignation...the appointed time of the end) strongly suggest that God's intention is to use the portrait of the character and actions of Antiochus Epiphanes to presage (provide a forewarning of) the coming world dictator, the Antichrist. Whether one choose to refer to this as a double fulfillment (near future = Antiochus, far future = Antichrist) or classifies Antiochus as a historical type of the future Antichrist is a moot point (View #3 and Views #4). In either case the historical person Antiochus Epiphanes is "descriptively" predictive of the future Antichrist. This is the view which this writer espouses.

THE TIME OF
THE END

The same phrase end time (using the same 2 Hebrew nouns as Da 8:17) is used in Daniel 11  to describe events future not only to Daniel but also future to the modern reader.

For example, in Daniel 11 we read that...

And at the end time ("time of the end" = NET, ESV, NIV) the king of the South will collide with him (in context this is the Antichrist), and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. He (Antichrist) will also enter the Beautiful Land (Israel), and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. (Da 11:40, 41)
 

This phrase "the end of time" (again the same 2 Hebrew nouns as Da 8:17) is used in Daniel 12

But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time ("time of the end" = NET, ESV, NIV); many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase. (Da 12:3)

These parallel phrases support the view that the present passages that were fulfilled in the person of the Rather Small Horn, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, were actually a foreshadowing of the future Antichrist (some commentators use the phrase that Antiochus is "typical" of the Antichrist and others such as Donald Campbell state that the description in Daniel 8 has a "double fulfillment", historically in the events of 175-164BC and in the future in the reign of terror of the Antichrist). In fact, study of the following passages suggest many points of similarity between these two enemies of God and Israel.

Leupold comments that...

King Antiochus is seen to be a kind of Old Testament antichrist like unto the great Antichrist; the overthrow and the defilement of the sanctuary shall correspond to similar experiences of the church (Ed: I disagree here with Leupold and feel the church is not in view during the Great Tribulation and the persecution by the Antichrist); the suffering of the holy people corresponds to suffering in the last great tribulation. When this is borne in mind, the chapter loses its isolation from present-day events and is seen to be typical in a very definite sense.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that...

the little horn arising from the third kingdom (Da 8:9) serves as a prototype (Ed: an individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type) of the little horn of the fourth kingdom (Ed: Revived stage of Rome). The crisis destined to confront God's people in the time of the earlier little horn, Antiochus Epiphanes, will bear a strong similarity to the crisis that will befall them in the eschatological or final phase of the fourth kingdom in the last days (as Christ himself foresaw in the Olivet Discourse - Mt 24:15). In each case a determined effort will be made by a ruthless dictator to suppress completely the biblical faith and the worship of the one true God.

Rather than concluding, as the Maccabean date hypothesis insists, that the little horn of chapter 7 is also intended as a prophecy of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (with a resultant identification of the fourth kingdom as the Greek or Seleucid Empire), we are to understand the relationship between the little horn of the Greek Empire (third kingdom) and that of the latter-day fourth kingdom to be that of type and antitype similar to that between Joshua and Jesus (Heb 4:8) and Melchizedek and Christ (He 6:20-note, Heb 7:1-note). In Daniel 11...both the typical little horn (Antiochus) and the antitypical little horn (Ed: Antichrist) appear in succession (Ed: Actions of Antiochus are described in detail in Da 11:21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35), the transition from the one to the other taking place at 11:40 (Ed: I disagree - There is a earlier definitive "break" in Da 11:36, the subsequent passages describing more facts which could only be fulfilled by the future Antichrist - See Da 11:36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45), after which are predicted the circumstances of the destined death of the antitype that were not at all true of Antiochus Epiphanes himself. Therefore, the two figures cannot be identical, nor can the Greek Empire be equated with the fourth kingdom of Daniel's prophetic scheme. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing or Logos Computer version)

There are a number of relatively similar time phrases in the eschatological section of Daniel

Da 8:17-note = the time of the end

Da 8:19-note = the appointed time of the end

Da 8:26-note = pertains to many days in the future

Da 9:26-note = even to the end there will be war

Da 10:14-note = in the latter days...pertains to the days yet future

Da 11:27-note = the end is still to come at the appointed time

Da 11:35-note = until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time

Da 11:40-note = at the end time

Da 12:4-note = until the end of time

Da 12:6-note = until the end of these wonders

Da 12:9-note = until the end time

Daniel 8:18 NOW WHILE HE WAS TALKING WITH ME, I SANK INTO A DEEP SLEEP WITH MY FACE TO THE GROUND; BUT HE TOUCHED ME AND MADE ME STAND UPRIGHT: (I was: Da 8:17,27 10:8,9 Lk 9:32 22:45) (he touched me: Da 10:10,16,18 Ge 15:12 Job 4:13 Eze 2:2 Zec 4:1 Ac 26:6)

While he was talking with me I sank into a deep sleep - Clearly Daniel was neither bored or sleepy in the normal sense. In fact such a divine encounter would have quite the opposite effect - a very sobering experience to put it mildly!

Sank into a deep sleep (A single Hebrew verb = radam) can refer to literal sleep (usually a deep, sound sleep) as in Jonah 1:5,6 or with Sisera before Jael put the peg through his head (Jdg 4:21). There are 2 uses in Daniel and both are associated with divine encounters. While one cannot be definitive, it seems that the awesome character of this (presumed) angelic communication caused him to "faint", much like we see when someone receives incredible unexpected news (good or bad). It would be difficult to say much more about Daniel's two unique experiences (Da 8:18, Da 10:9).

Radam - 7 uses in the OT - Jdg 4:21 (Sisera "was sound asleep"); Ps 76:6 ("were cast into a dead sleep" = context refers to the "sleep" of death ); Pr 10:5 ("sleeps in harvest" - conveys the picture of inactivity as might be seen with laziness or apathy); Da 8:18; 10:9; Jonah 1:5f

Daniel 10:9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. (Comment: And just as in Da 8:18 a supernatural hand touched and aroused Daniel - Da 10:10).

Jonah 1:5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.

Made me stand upright - The Hebrew is more literally "made me stand upon my standing"

He touched me - The "holy one" presumably an angel. Interesting, that one from the "unseen" world can physically touch one in the visible world.

Daniel's reaction to these divine encounters (Da 8:18, Da 10:9) is reminiscent of John's encounter with the Risen Christ in Revelation where the apostle records...

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Rev 1:17-note, Rev 1:18-note)

Daniel 8:19 HE SAID, "BEHOLD, I AM GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WILL OCCUR AT THE FINAL PERIOD OF THE INDIGNATION, FOR IT PERTAINS TO THE APPOINTED TIME OF THE END: (I am going to:  Da 8:15, 16, 17 Rev 1:1) (The final period of indignation: Da 8:17,23 9:26,27 11:27,35,36 12:7,8 Hab 2:3 Rev 10:7 11:18 Rev 15:1 17:17)
 

THE FINAL PERIOD
OF INDIGNATION

Behold - Remember this is always calculated to get the hearer's (or reader's) attention. The idea is "Listen up. Pay very careful attention to what follows."

Final period (acharith) means the end of a period of time, the last time, the latter time. I would propose that the use of this specific noun in Daniel 8:19 is meant transport the reader from the historical prophecy (future to Daniel, but fulfilled from our perspective) of the character and conduct of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (and the tribulation he invokes on the Jews) into the far future in which the Antichrist carries out a similar, albeit of far greater magnitude, anti-Semitic attack on the chosen people in the end times. I do not however agree with some who interpret that Daniel 8 is describing the future Antichrist, but only that the events "foreshadow" that future evil Satanically inspired personage. In other words, God gave Daniel a glimpse of the final period of the indignation through the portrait of Antiochus Epiphanes but God was saying in essence that there is a worse time yet to come.

Here are some other uses of acharith that are clearly used in the context of end times events that impact Israel.

This word acharith is used by Moses to describe what will happen to rebellious Israel at the end of time (during the time of the Great Tribulation) declaring...

When you are in distress (tribulation) and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. (Dt 4:30)

Comment: Compare the use in Isa 2:2 [Micah 4:1] where acharith is translated "last" and as in Dt 4:30 clearly refers to the inauguration of the Messianic Kingdom when the King of kings returns and Jews repent and return and listen to their Messiah - a glorious day to anticipate! See a parallel description of "the last (acharith) days" in Hosea 3:5.

Here are some other uses of acharith in a distinctly futuristic, end times context...

The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it. (Jer 23:20, cp Jer 30:24, Jer 48:47, 49:39, Da 2:28)

Comment: Here last refers to the final act of this present age during the Great Tribulation with the inauguration of the New Age of the Messiah when the terms of the New Covenant will be fully and finally fulfilled for the believing Jews who God had promised through Jeremiah 31:31, 32, 33, 34 - note especially the phrase in verse 34 "they shall all know me", cp Hebrews 8:11. Zech 12:10 also alludes to the eyes of the Jews being opened by grace so that they come to understand what their forefathers had done to the Messiah - compare "in the last days you [Jews] will clearly understand it".

Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future. (Da 10:14)

Comment: Here latter clearly refers to the end time events in which Israel will be a central player on the world stage. This vision in fact extends from Daniel 10 through Daniel 12 and describes the final evil anti-Semitic world ruler, the Antichrist and a time of distress for the Jews of unprecedented proportions (cp Da 12:1)

Indignation (02195) (za'am) literally means frothing at the mouth and speaks of fury and in the Scriptures is often a dramatic picture of God's great displeasure with sin (Isa 26:20; Isa 30:27; Hab 3:12).

Za'am - 22 verses - Ps 38:3; 69:24; 78:49; 102:10; Isa 10:5, 25; 13:5; 26:20; 30:27; Jer 10:10; 15:17; 50:25; Lam 2:6; Ezek 21:31; 22:24, 31; Da 8:19; 11:36; Hos 7:16; Nah 1:6; Hab 3:12; Zeph 3:8. NAS = indignation(21), insolence(1).

Indignation is defined as (extreme) anger (mingled with contempt, disgust, abhorrence) aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean. The 1828 Webster's defines indignation as " The anger of a superior; extreme anger; particularly, the wrath of God against sinful men for their ingratitude and rebellion. The effects of anger; the dreadful effects of God’s wrath; terrible judgments."

Final period of the indignation - If one postulates that Daniel 8 is historically fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes and has no future "foreshadowing" of the Antichrist, this time phrase would not make good sense considering the Biblical prediction of the future history of Israel, for the time of Antiochus was not in fact the literal final period of the indignation. The final period of indignation will only be fulfilled during the time of Jacob's distress (Jer 30:7), the time of the Great Tribulation.

In support of this phrase foreshadowing a future event, note that the identical phrase, the indignation, is used only one other time in Daniel 11 where it clearly describes a time period which is most compatible with the actions of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation...

Then the king (in context this is almost certainly the Antichrist - notice how his actions in the remainder of the verse describe his "anti" or against Christ actions leaving little doubt as to his identity) will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods (cp the actions of the Antichrist in 2Th 2:3,4; Rev 13:6-note, Da 7:25-note); and he will prosper until the indignation (za'am) is finished (Rev 13:5-note, "time, times and half a time" - Da 7:25-note), for that which is decreed will be done. (Daniel 11:36-note)

Comment: In context the king in Da 11:36 is clearly the "Little Horn", the Antichrist, the Man of Sin, the final world dictator who God will allow to exert power for 3.5 years in the final period of divine or discipline of His people Israel, a refining fire which will result in one-third of the nation repenting and turning in faith to the Messiah (Zech 12:10, Zech 13:7, 8). In short, indignation in this verse clearly refers to the time of the Great Tribulation (click to see chart for synonyms), in short the final period of indignation.

In a parallel passage that uses the word "indignation" Isaiah records...

Come (All verbs in red are commands), my people, enter into your rooms, and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while, until indignation (za'am) runs its course ("has passed by" - NIV, ESV). For behold (interjection to arrest the reader's attention - Listen up!), the LORD (Jehovah) is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth (When will Jesus return to punish the earth? Has this happened yet? This must speak of His Second Coming - see chart comparing the Rapture versus the Second Coming) for their iniquity (cp Rev 19:11-21); and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:20, 21)

Thomas Constable Comments: Before the restoration of Israel, however, God’s people would experience hard times (in the Tribulation, cf. Rev. 12)...Yahweh would come out of His heavenly place of quiet to punish Earth Dwellers for their secret sins in the Tribulation. The earth itself, the forces of nature, would assist the Lord, metaphorically, by exposing sins that lay hidden (cf. Isa 26:12). (Daniel Expository Commentary Notes)

KJV Bible commentary on Isaiah 26:20: The passing over of the indignation (za'am, indignant denunciation) may refer to the survival of the Jewish remnant during the Tribulation Period. (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson or Logos)

Bible Knowledge Commentary: Isaiah wrote that the future remnant should hide during the time of distress (God’s wrath in the Tribulation) (Ed note: See same phrase Da 12:1-note), knowing that deliverance from the Lord will come. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R.

THE APPOINTED TIME
OF THE END

The appointed time of the end - This phrase would amplify and explain that the final period of indignation is truly at the end of time and as such would be descriptive of events yet to occur. To be sure the Jews suffered indignation under Antiochus Epiphanes, but it was not meant to convey the message that there would be no further indignation. In fact, history gives ample proof that the Jew's have continued to suffer for the last 2000 plus years. This indignation will come to its appointed time of the end only when Christ returns to terminate the rule of the Antichrist in the last 3.5 year period of this present age.

The Hebrew Word (qets) for end is used 13 times in Daniel (Da 8:17, 19; 9:26; 11:6, 13, 27, 35, 40, 45; 12:4, 6, 9, 13)  and several times the context leaves little doubt that the reference is to a time in the far future...

Daniel 11:35 "Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.

Daniel 11:40 "And at the end time the king of the South will collide with him (the Antichrist), and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through.

Daniel 12:4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time (Context: Da 12:1 describing the last 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation); many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."

Daniel 12:6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?"

Daniel 12:9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.

Daniel 12:13 "But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age (The present age which will come to an abrupt close when the Lord returns to put an end to the Great Tribulation)."

It is also noteworthy that in most of the preceding "futuristic" passages (Da 11:35, 40, 12:4, 12:6, 12:13) the Septuagint translates end (Hebrew - qets) with the noun sunteleia which describes a point in time marking the consummation, end or close of an age. In the NT sunteleia is repeatedly used to describe the end of this present age!

And He answered and said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them (the tares) is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. "Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end (sunteleia) of the age...49 "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, (Mt 13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).

And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (sunteleia) of the age?" (Mt 24:3)

Go therefore and make disciples (aorist imperative = Command [the only actual command in the great commission] to do this now! Don't delay. It is vitally important! Even urgent!) of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end (sunteleia) of the age. (Mt 28:19,20)
 

Daniel 8:20 THE RAM WHICH YOU SAW WITH THE TWO HORNS REPRESENTS THE KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA: (Da 8:3 11:1,2) (Media...Persia: Da 6:12 )
 

Vision Upon the Ulai
Used by Permission of Ted Larson

The angel interprets the details of the vision in Daniel 8:3, Media coming up first as the actual conqueror of Babylon's King Belshazzar (Da 5:30, 31), and was followed by Persia which eventually became the dominant power of these two divisions.

Daniel 8:21 THE SHAGGY GOAT REPRESENTS THE KINGDOM OF GREECE, AND THE LARGE HORN THAT IS BETWEEN HIS EYES IS THE FIRST KING: (Shaggy goat - Da 8:5, 6, 7 10:20) (Large horn - Da 8:8 11:3)

Shaggy goat (there are two similar words in Hebrew both of which can mean goat) - The NET in says the phrase literally is "the he-goat, the buck" and adds that "The expression is odd, and the second word may be an explanatory gloss."

The large horn...the first king - History leaves no doubt as to his identity as Alexander the Great.

Daniel 8:22 THE BROKEN HORN AND THE FOUR HORNS THAT AROSE IN ITS PLACE REPRESENT FOUR KINGDOMS WHICH WILL ARISE FROM HIS NATION, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH HIS POWER:

In Daniel's fourth vision the fact of the four horns is alluded to again...

But as soon as he has arisen, his (Alexander the Great's) kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass (Da 8:8), though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded; for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them. (Da 11:4)
 

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge comments that...

After Alexander's death, in the prime of life and in the height of his conquests, his brother and two sons were all murdered; and the kingdom was divided among four of his generals. 1. Seleucus, who had Syria and Babylon; 2. Lysimachus, who had Asia Minor; 3. Ptolemy, who had Egypt; and, 4. Cassander, who had Greece, etc.

Daniel 8:23 IN THE LATTER PERIOD OF THEIR RULE, WHEN THE TRANSGRESSORS HAVE RUN THEIR COURSE, A KING WILL ARISE, INSOLENT AND SKILLED IN INTRIGUE: (In the: Da 10:14 Nu 24:24 Eze 38:8,16 1Ti 4:1) (When: Ge 15:16 Mt 23:32 1Th 2:16)

As Miller says Da 8:23-26 represent "the heart of the vision" and presents important truths that the people of Israel would need to know in order to prepare them for the evil reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. So herein we see that one of the great values of prophecy is to comfort and to strengthen faithfulness in those who are destined to experience the times of tribulation which the prophecy speaks. And it strikes me that the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ will have a similar value to those who are destined to endure the unspeakably evil times of the "greater Antiochus", the Satanically energized Antichrist in the Daniel's Seventieth Week and especially during the last 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation (the "time of Jacob's Trouble" or "Distress"- Jer 30:7) when this evil anti-Semitic king seeks to eradicate the Jews and the nation of Israel, a goal that Satan has continually sought to accomplish from the moment he was made aware that redemption would come through Israel and her Messiah (cp God addressing Satan and issuing the clear prophecy of His future and final "victory" over Evil - Ge 3:15).

Latter period - The text again uses the word acharith (see discussion in Da 8:19), but here the context clearly demonstrates that this is referring to the latter period (about 175BC) of the rule of the 4 divisions of Alexander's kingdom (Division followed his death in 323BC - so 175BC would be in the latter period of the divided kingdoms). The king that will arise is Antiochus Epiphanes who begins his reign in about 175BC.

When the transgressors have run their course (KJV = come to the full, NET = when rebellious acts are complete; ESV = when the transgressors have reached their limit; NLT paraphrases it = when their sin is at its height) - The transgressors or rebels are those Jews who have rebelled against God's law (see Da 8:12 notes) and this phrase seems to indicate that their "iniquity...is...complete" and "ripe" for the disciplining/refining hand of God (see this principle in Ge 15:16; Mt 23:32; 1Th 2:16).

A king will arise - Antiochus Epiphanes. See additional details of his evil character and conduct in Daniel 11 (Da 11:21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35). Note that in Daniel 11:36 the description abruptly leaps forward into the future to the time of the Antichrist, whose description continues through Da 11:45.

Insolent (NET = rash, NIV = stern faced, YLT = fierce of face, KJV = of fierce countenance, ESV = of bold face). The Septuagint (LXX) translates the Hebrew with a Greek adjective (anaides - often used with a description of one's countenance - see LXX of Dt 28:50 for "fierce" countenance, Pr 7:13 for "brazen" face, Pr 25:23 "angry" countenance, Ec 8:1 "stern" face) meaning shameless, bold, ruthless, reckless. Clearly Antiochus fit such a description, for a man's face often conveys what is in a man's heart.

Skilled in intrigue (literally = "understanding hidden things", "understanding riddles") (NET - He will be "crafty", a veritable "master of intrigue" (NIV) who "understands riddles" (ESV) and difficult problems. The Hebrew word for intrigue (hiydah) is used to describe how the Queen of Sheba's had heard about King Solomon's ability to handle "difficult questions" (hiydah, 1Ki 10:1).

Daniel 8:24 HIS POWER WILL BE MIGHTY, BUT NOT BY HIS OWN POWER, AND HE WILL DESTROY TO AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE AND PROSPER AND PERFORM HIS WILL; HE WILL DESTROY MIGHTY MEN AND THE HOLY PEOPLE: (but: Rev 13:3-9 17:12,13,17) (prosper: Da 8:12 11:36) (destroy: Da 8:10,12 7:25 11:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Rev 13:10 16:6 17:6 19:2)

His power will be mighty - When Antiochus became king, the Seleucid dynasty was not strong politically, but as prophesied under Antiochus ruthless, skilled leadership his power "grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land." (Da 8:9)

But not by his (Antiochus') own power (See parallel truths regarding the future Antichrist - Rev 13:2, Rev 17:12,13,17 ) - This means his power comes from an external source and given his incredibly evil conduct, his source could be none other than demonic, and could have possibly been even Satan himself. The fact closely parallels John's statement that "the dragon gave him (the Antichrist) his power and his throne and great authority." (Rev 13:2b). Once again we must remember that even though God allows evil to manifest itself through evil angels and evil men, He is sovereign and in control as He orders the events of history (cp Da 2:21 as you ponder Antiochus' and Antichrist's rise to power) toward their final consummation, at which time He finally, once and for all time and eternity, replaces unrighteousness with the rule and reign of His Righteous Branch (the Messiah - Is 4:2, Is 11:1, Is 53:2, Jer 23:5, Jer 33:15, Zech 3:8, Zech 6:12)

He will...prosper (Hebrews = salah) - See comments on Daniel 8:12. Antiochus IV Epiphanes will  succeed in his evil enterprise and activity, becoming strong and flourishing (which is also stated in essence in the prophecy in Da 8:9).

Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that...

While we are not definitely told whether Antiochus made a formal claim to deity while enthroned in splendor in the court of the Jerusalem temple, he certainly did assume the right to determine what gods his subjects should worship, feeling that he was the earthly embodiment of the powers of heaven and that all rule and authority was given him. Like Nebuchadnezzar, he expected all his subjects to bow down to the great image he had set up. But he went even beyond Nebuchadnezzar in trying to abolish the ancestral religion of the Jews, forbidding them on pain of death to circumcise their children and making the possession of the Hebrew Scriptures a capital offense. By erecting the statue of Zeus Olympius (or Capitolinus) in the temple of Yahweh and sacrificing swine on the altar, he committed the greatest possible sacrilege and affront to the Jewish people.

He will destroy...the holy people - Jews, presumably those who were genuine believers (part of the remnant)

Daniel 8:25 AND THROUGH HIS SHREWDNESS HE WILL CAUSE DECEIT TO SUCCEED BY HIS INFLUENCE; AND HE WILL MAGNIFY HIMSELF IN HIS HEART, AND HE WILL DESTROY MANY WHILE THEY ARE AT EASE. HE WILL EVEN OPPOSE THE PRINCE OF PRINCES, BUT HE WILL BE BROKEN WITHOUT HUMAN AGENCY: (through: Da 8:23,24 7:8 11:21-25,32,33) (magnify: Da 8:11 11:36,37 Jer 48:26) (At ease: Da 11:21) (Oppose:: Da 8:11 11:36 Rev 17:14 19:16) (But: Da 2:34,35,44,45 7:26 11:45 Job 34:20 La 4:6 Ac 12:23 Rev 19:19-21)

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Magnify himself in his heart (Literally = "in his heart he will act arrogantly") - Obviously this speaks of Antiochus' pride, arrogance, and self-exaltation. In fact, Antiochus Epiphanes even had coins minted which bore his image on one side and an inscription on the other (see above) which said "Antiochus, image of God, bearer of victory".

He will destroy many while they are at ease (ESV = Without warning he shall destroy many; NIV = When they feel secure, he will destroy many)

At ease (KJV = by peace) - The NET note states that "The Hebrew word used here is difficult. It may refer to the security felt by those who did not realize the danger of imminent attack, or it may refer to the condition of being unaware of the impending danger."

The Prince of princes - God. Possibly a specific reference to Messiah (cp "Messiah the Prince" in Da 9:25)

The future Antichrist will manifest a similar character and conduct to that of Antiochus Epiphanes as Paul explained to the saints at Thessalonica exhorting them to...

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (Day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2Thes 2:3,4)

Broken without human agency - He will not be killed by another human, but ultimately by God the Righteous Judge. Similarly the Antichrist will be defeated and destroyed by God, specifically at the return of the King of kings (see Rev 19:20)

First Maccabees records the events surrounding the death of Antiochus...

As King Antiochus (Epiphanes) was traversing the inland provinces, he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais (Note in New American Bible = Elymais: the mountainous region of Elam, north of the Persian Gulf. This section continues the story from 1 Macc 3:37 and pertains to events preceding those in 1 Macc 4:37, 38, 39), famous for its wealth in silver and gold, 2 and that its temple was very rich, containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, son of Philip, king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks. 3 He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city. But he could not do so, because his plan became known to the people of the city 4 who rose up in battle against him. So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there to return to Babylon. 5 While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight; 6 that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army and been driven back by the Israelites; that they had grown strong by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions taken from the armies they had destroyed; 7 that they had pulled down the Abomination (cp Abomination of desolation Antiochus set up in Da 11:31 - a foreshadowing of the future "Abomination of Desolation" described by Jesus in Mt 24:15 [cp Da 9:27, 2Th 2:3,4] which would mark the beginning of the horrible "indignation" [Da 8:19, Is 26:20], the "time of Jacob's distress" [Jer 30:7],  Great Tribulation) which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded with high walls both the sanctuary, as it had been before, and his city of Beth-zur.

8 When the king heard this news, he was struck with fear and very much shaken. Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed. 9 There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die. 10 So he called in all his Friends and said to them:

“Sleep has departed from my eyes, for my heart is sinking with anxiety. 11 I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! 12 Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’ But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. 13 I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.”

14 Then he summoned Philip, one of his Friends, and put him in charge of his whole kingdom. 15 He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he might guide the king’s son Antiochus and bring him up to be king. 16 King Antiochus died in Persia in the year one hundred and forty-nine. (Note in the New American Bible on this verse = The year one hundred and forty-nine: September 22, 164, to October 9, 163 B.C. A Babylonian list of the Seleucid kings indicates that Antiochus died in November or early December of 164)

Daniel 8:26 THE VISION OF THE EVENINGS AND MORNINGS WHICH HAS BEEN TOLD IS TRUE; BUT KEEP THE VISION SECRET, FOR IT PERTAINS TO MANY DAYS IN THE FUTURE: (vision: Da 8:11-15 10:1) (But:  Da 12:4,9 Eze 12:27 Rev 10:4 22:10) (For it pertains: Da 10:1,14 Isa 24:22 Ho 3:3,4)

Keep the vision of secret (ESV, NIV, NET = "seal up the vision") in some passages can mean to authenticate or certify, but in the present passage is more compatible with shutting the vision for safekeeping and preservation. This verb could allude to the ancient practice of making a scroll secure and preserving it by "shutting" it with a wax seal. Certainly this vision was given so that the Jews of a later generation would be able to refer to it and thereby clearly recognize Antiochus Epiphanes and resist him (knowing that he would have only 2300 days in order to carry out his evil persecution of the Jews).

Bible Knowledge Commentary adds that...

Daniel was told to seal up the vision in the sense of concluding it, not in the sense of keeping it secret, because it needed to be preserved for the future. He kept it in his mind and later preserved it in writing when he wrote it down under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 1985. Victor or Logos or Wordsearch)

It pertains to many days - First note that "in the future" is added by the NAS translators. Nevertheless the context does support that this time phrase is a reference to "many days" in the future. If Daniel received this vision in about 551BC and Antiochus Epiphanes did not come on the scene until 175BC, the fulfillment of this vision would not be for "many days" (in fact about ~376 years). This time phrase could also be an allusion to the fact that this historical fulfillment in Antiochus is also a foreshadowing of the Antichrist.

In his fourth vision Daniel receives a similar message...

Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.

Comment: This passage identifies this vision as a reference to the future culminating in the events surrounding the second coming of Christ.

As an aside note that there are a number of closely related time phrases used in the OT which are eschatological (refer to future events):

Latter days = Dt 4:30 31:29 Je 30:24 48:47 Da 2:28 10:14

Last days = Isa 2:2 Je 23:20 49:39 Ho 3:5 Mic 4:1

Days to come = Ge 49:1 Isa 27:6 Nu 24:14

Daniel 8:27  THEN I, DANIEL, WAS EXHAUSTED AND SICK FOR DAYS. THEN I GOT UP AGAIN AND CARRIED ON THE KING'S BUSINESS; BUT I WAS ASTOUNDED AT THE VISION, AND THERE WAS NONE TO EXPLAIN IT: (exhausted: Da 8:7 7:28 10:8,16 Hab 3:16) (Carried on: Da 8:2 2:48,49 5:14 6:2,3 1Sa 3:15) (but: Da 8:15-17)

Related Resource: Sermon notes by Chuck Smith Doing the King's Business

Guzik comments that...

Daniel didn't let either spiritual mysteries or physical weakness keep him from doing his duty. This shows us that our interest in prophecy should make us more about our king's business, not less about it.

Then I got up again and carried on the king's business - Once again Daniel gives us an example of faithfulness to imitate (cp Heb 6:11, 12-note). And what an example - despite the miraculous nature of the vision, Daniel faithfully went back to the mundane task which God had provided for him on earth. This is all the more remarkable because King Belshazzar was not even aware of Daniel's efforts in his behalf (cp Da 5:10, 11, 12, 13). We are all "faithful" in the spotlight, but what about when we're in the limelight like Daniel? Beloved, as children of the King are we not also to carry on His business, "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10-note)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, (my prayer for each of us is to) be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1Cor 15:58) Amen